Dragon Tongue Beans

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This item was last sold on : 11/12/24

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Description/Taste

Dragon Tongue beans are an heirloom variety that grows on stringless pods. These beans have a broad, flattened shape and range between 13 to 20 centimeters long. Young Dragon Tongue beans start cream-colored and develop bright purple variegations once they are ready to be harvested. Inside each pod are four to six white seeds with a firm and slightly starchy texture. Dragon Tongue beans have a mildly earth aroma that grows stronger when cooked. They have a nutty and sweet flavor that’s juicy and delicate rather than fibrous.

Seasons/Availability

Dragon Tongue beans are available mid-summer through fall.

Current Facts

Dragon Tongue beans are botanically classified as Phaseolus vulgaris and are a member of the Fabaceae family. They are also referred to as Dragon Langerie, Merveille de Piemonte, and Dragon Tongue shelling beans. Dragon Tongue beans are classified as both a pea and a pulse, the latter of which are the dry edible seeds of plants in the legume family. Other varieties of pulses include chickpeas, lentils, and dry peas. Dragon Tongue beans are not to be confused with the Dragon Tongue plant, a small grassy plant with green and purple leaves that are often used in aquariums. Dragon Tongue beans likely get their name because their slightly flattened shape and white and purple stripes resemble the tongue of a fire-breathing dragon.

Nutritional Value

Dragon Tongue beans are a significant source of protein, a nutrient that's important for repairing and growing muscles as well as promoting fullness. This bean contains Vitamin A and K, which are crucial for vision, skin, bone, tissue, and immune health as well as heart, lung, kidney, and organ function. Dragon Tongue beans provide calcium which may further help with muscle, nerve, and heart function. These beans are a source of iron and folate, nutrients that help carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body, prevent fatigue, and help with brain function and protein metabolism. Dragon Tongue beans high fiber content can help with digestion, lowering cholesterol levels, and stabilizing blood sugar levels. These beans also contain the B Vitamins Thiamine and Riboflavin which can help turn nutrients into energy, promote the cardiovascular and nervous systems, and encourage healthy cell function.

Applications

Dragon Tongue Beans can be eaten raw or cooked, no shelling required. When these beans are cooked, they lose their vibrant purple hue, prompting some people to prefer them raw. To showcase their color, fresh Dragon Tongue beans can be eaten on their own like snap peas, tossed into salads, served with creamy dips as a crudité, or used as a colorful garnish. They can maintain their crunchy texture when simmered or steamed for a few minutes and then dropped in an ice bath to halt the cooking process. Dragon Tongue beans can be pickled with fresh herbs, spices, and other vegetables. They can be tossed into a stir-fried, sauteed in olive oil, served alongside a buttery potato dish, fried in tempura batter, or used in a bean salad. Dragon Tongue beans pair well with foods like beets, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplants, peas, radishes, shallots, garlic, rosemary, and crispy pancetta. When wrapped in plastic and stored in the refrigerator, these beans should last up to a week.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Dragon Tongue beans originated in the Netherlands during the 1700s. They are classified as a bush bean, a crop whose first recorded depiction dates back to the 1540s when it was illustrated by German botanist Leonhart Fuchs. Also a physician, Fuchs literary work Historia Stirpium is a pivotal development in the natural history of plants like bush beans. Over time, we have come to find that regardless of shape, size, or color, all varieties of common garden beans belong to the same species and will readily cross with each other under the right conditions. Since the eighteenth century, people have tried to scientifically categorize beans, though horticulturists continue to use fairly unscientific means to classify them. The main categories of beans are snap beans which are eaten as green pods, shelled beans which are cooked like fresh beans, and dry beans which are soaked and prepared in baked bean dishes.

Geography/History

Dragon Tongue beans originated from the Netherlands in the 18th century. They prefer temperate climates with lots of sun and can adapt well to humidity though they don't tolerate frost. They do not grow in the wild though they are cultivated in home gardens and on commercial farms. After first cultivation, Dragon Tongue beans spread to England and France before making their way to the New World. They have since been naturalized in North and South America and can be found growing all across the United States. Despite their trans-continental spread, Dragon Tongue beans are not particularly common and aren’t often found in large grocery stores. They are more likely to be at farmers' markets and specialty stores. Dragon Tongue beans may also be found in home gardens, particularly because of their productive yields and distinctive flavor.

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Dragon Tongue Beans. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Seasoned to Taste		Summer Succotash with Bacon and Garlic Croutons
Tarladalal		Dragon Tongue Beans with Pancetta and Mushrooms
Cooking on the Weekends		Dragon tongue Bean salad Recipe
Little Locavores		Polish Sausage, Kale and Dragon's Tongue Beans